Grief involves coping with loss. Death, divorce and the loss of a home are all major events that people grieve. While everyone’s experience of grief is different, there are common responses that can be useful to recognize if you’re facing a loss. Whether grieving or supporting a loved one, practice patience as you work through this difficult time.

A grieving person may yell to the heavens, obsess about the death, lash out at loved ones, or cry for hours on end. Your loved one needs reassurance that what they feel is normal. Don’t judge them or take their grief reactions personally. There is no set timetable for grieving.

Creating an atmosphere of presence is an important first step when a loved one or friend is grieving. Acknowledge the significance of their loss by visiting, checking in with phone calls and texts, sending an email or card, or making a memorial donation to a charitable cause.

Bereavement is the grief and mourning experience following the death of someone important to you. While it’s an inevitable part of life—something that virtually all of us go through at some point—losing someone you love can be one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever have to endure.